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Historical Library ® Natural History Museu 


JOSUA LINDAHL, PH. D., CURATOR. 


JANUARY 26, 1889. 


SPRINGFIELD, ILL: 
H. W. ROKKER, PRINTER AND BINDER 
1889. 


Wiel: Siete Keture) Vistory Survey 
Libary 


Pe Sein | 


OF THE 


STATE OF ILLINOIS HISTORICAL LIBRARY 


AND 


NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM. 


JOSUA LINDAHL, Ba- D., Curator. 


To the Honorable Board of Trustees of the State of Illinois 

Historical Library and Natural History Museum: 
GENTLEMEN: | 

I hereby submit to you the following report:— 

The encouragement by the governments of the various States 
of the Union of scientific research for the purpose of aiding 
practical development, varies considerably in the different States. 
Appropriations for the geological survey, the care and 
development of the State Museum and the publication of 
reports and bulletins on subjects connected therewith, and 
the number of scientists connected with these institutions, are, 
in most other northern States, east of the Mississippi river, 
larger than at present in Illinois. The reports of the geologi- 
cal survey made by, or under the direction of my distinguished 
predecessor, of which reports the last volume has been ready 
for the printer more than two years, although for well known 
reasons its publication has been delayed until now, form a most 
valuable contribution to that science, which teaches how to dis- 
cover and utilize the hidden treasures of the earth, and acontribu- 
tion equally creditable to its learned authors and to the State 
of Illinois. But this, like all other branches of human knowl- 
edge can never be exhausted, and every discovery of import- 
ance Only widens the field and opens to our view new fields of 


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research which promise constantly increasing blessings to man- 
kind. I will therefore express the hope that this State will 
eventually follow the example of other States, and decide to 
have a second geological survey. 

In the meantime no opportunity should be lost to make our 
people familiar with all that we at present know of our State’s 
natural history, in the broadest sense of this term. One way of 
promoting this object would be by frequently publishing bulle- 
tins from the State Museum. Such bulletins would be prefer- 
able to large volumes, as they could be published imme- 
diately whenever needed, whilst the publication of large 
volumes generally involves difficulties, and sometimes serious 
loss of time. Geological discoveries are often apt to create a 
“‘fever’’—whether it be gas, oil or gold fever, or still other spe- 
cies hitherto unknown. In such cases—and we have recently 
seen a case of this kind in Ohio—the people will not wait for 
the publication of big volumes on the subject, but rapidly waste 
fortunes in wild speculations. 


If the means of publishing such bulletins be Qrovided by the 
Legislature now in session, I would propose to commence the 
series with a dictionary of altitudes in Illinois, for which work 
I have already obtained considerable material, mainly through 
the courtesy of the various railroad companies in the State. 

In a subsequent issue I would publish descriptive lists of all 
species of fossils hitherto found within the State. Such lists are 
much needed and would encourage students all over the State 
to add further contributions to our knowledge of its paleon- 
tology. 

Another way toward realizing the same object would be to 
richly furnish the State Museum not only with an abundant 
supply of all the different forms of natural products of the State 
but also with sufficiently ample collections of similar objects 
from other parts of the world, to illustrate the relation, between 
our indigenous species and those outside of the State or this 
country. It would, however, not suffice to have these collections 
stored in the museum; they must be so arranged and labeled that 
anintelligent visitor shall be able to study the museum like a well 
written text book. A museum differs in this respect from a 
mere ¢uriosity-shop, that the systematic arrangement of “labels 


2 

‘ 
with specimens attached ” is of still greater importance for the gen- 
eral usefulness of the museum than the abundance or excellence of 
the specimens themselves. Such an arrangement demands ample 
space, and I cannot too strongly emphasize the need of procur- 
ing additional show-cases, as a desideratum of paramount im- 
portance. 

There is still a third way of making the State Museum a 
far-reaching source of knowledge of the natural history of the 
State, returning a maximum of utility to the people. I have 
but little doubt that in the near future it will be found neces- 
sary to introduce into the high schools a short and practical 
course of geology. Then will be the time when not only a com- 
plete geological museum will be more appreciated, but most 
likely the State Museum will be called upon to supply the 
schools with collections of such specimens as belong in the 
State, sinee it would prove altogether too expensive for the 
schools to procure such collections direct from the various parts 
of the State. 


There is now in the basement of this building many tons of 
matter which is, so to say, in chaos and in its present state of 
no use to the public. Other collections filling 576 drawers in 
the museum are in but little better condition. While some of 
this material may prove of value to the permanent collection 
in the: museum, most of it consists of duplicates which might 
be utilized, in the way above mentioned, for school collections? 
Thereby the further advantage would be gained that the now 
over-crowded drawers would be available for a better arrange- 
ment of the permanent collection. 


I would also direct the attention of the Board to the fact 
that a most valuable collection of books and fossils is offered 
for sale by the heirs of the late Prof. Worthen. The acquisition 
of this collection for the State would be of immense advantage. 
Not only does it contain the greater part of those very speci- 
mens which served the authors of the geological reports of the 
State as “types” in describing and drawing figures of new spe- 
cies, but its general collection of Hlinois fossils exceeds that in 
the State Museum both in number and perfection of its speci- 
mens. While all the ‘‘types” and the most perfect of the other 
specimens would be of immeasurable importance to the State 


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Museum, the remainder would be a most valuable addition to 
; / . - 

the collection of duplicates for distribution among the schools 

of the State. 


The State Museum has, during the past year, been kept 
open to the public every week-day from 9 to 12 o’clock A. M., 
and from 1 to 5 o’clock p. mM. The attendance has been very 
large. Frequent excursions from various parts of the State 
brought great crowds of people to the museum throughout the 
summer and fall of last year and the lively interest manifested 
by the numerous visitors has been highly encouraging. 


My work since the commencement of my appointment—on 
the 9th of June last—has been divided between my writing desk, 
where I have had a considerable correspondence to attend to, 
the museum, and a few trips to the northern counties of the 
State, mainly with the view of increasing our collections of fos- 
sils of these regions. Numerous letters of inquiries have been 
received and answered, although in many instances I have been 
compelled to answer, that available documents do not furnish 
the information asked for, information which could only be ob- 
tained by new investigations at the place, and for such work I 
had neither the requisite appropriation nor have I considered 
it consistent with my duties as Curator to spend any consider- 
able time in assisting individuals while so much important work 
remains undone in the State Museum. 


Many samples of ores and rocks have been sent to me for 
determination. Finding no equipment here for such work | 
have bought a microscope and the most indispensable labora- 
tory outfit and thereby been able to accommodate some appli- 
cants. Several parties have sent in specimens of fossils for 
identification., Such requests [ have aways attended to, and in 
many cases the app.icants have been pleased to favor the mu- 
seum with specimens of value. 


I have for the present a lot of 2770 pounds of minerals and 
fossils, ete., from the State Normal Institution at Normal, and 
will determine the same during the spring, the agreement being 
‘that all duplicates shall be distributed to schools in the State, 
the incidental expenses, such as transportation, being paid by 
the said institution. 
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3 

When the museum was moved from the third floor to its 
present location, it was done, I am told; partly during Prof. 
Worthen’s absence, by a man who had no idea of the mischief 
he was doing in mixing up specimens and labels. They were 
never completely re-arranged by Prof. Worthen, and it will be 
a most delicate and time consuming task to do this, so as to 
avoid mistakes. I have commenced such work with the collec- 
tion of recent shells, which are now being mounted on wooden 
tablets purchased for that purpose from the work-shops of the 
‘State University at Champaign. 

The unclassified collection stored in alcohol and never be- 
fore displayed has been partly arranged in glass jars and classi- 
fied. By far the greater part, however, remains untouched for 
want of suitable @lass jars, the purchase of which would require 
$100.00, a sum far exceeding the balance on hand of the year’s 
appropriation for the museum. 

The eminent paleontologist, HE. O. Ulrich, author of a val- 
uable memoir on the fossil Bryozoa of [hinois, which will occupy 
the larger part of the eighth volume of reports of the geologi- 
cal survey of this State, offered the museum a set of 200 slides 
of thin sections of such fossils, prepared for the microscope, at 
the very moderate price of 470.00. These sections being identi- 
cal to those which served Mr. Ulrich as types in drawing the 50 
plates which illustrate the above named memoir, I have re- 
earded it important to accept this offer so far, that I have 
bought and paid for one-half of the set, hoping to secure the 
remaining half in the near future. 

The botanical collection has hitherto been stored in a case 
in the small room adjacent to the State Library. It is not ac- 
cessible to the public, and the case cannot de moved—being 
built into the wall of the room. This collection should be kept 
in the museum, where a suitable case ought to be provided 
for it. 

The collection of larger mammals will soon be ruined by 
dust and moth and thoughtless visitors, from want of proper 
protection. Thus, for instance, the magnificent buffalo, per- 
haps the most splendid specimen of this species in existence in 
the world, exceedingly valuable and simply impossible to  re- 
place, is exposed to complete ruin because not placed in a glass 


case. Another such example is the large and fine specimen of 
the grizzly bear, from which several of its big claws have been 
broken off and carried away. 

The Hereney of the museum has since June last received, as 
donations from various parties, 131 volumes and 12 pamphlets. 
These are at present the only books that are indisputably the 
property of the museum. I have hitherto had the use of the 
library claimed by the heirs of Prof. Worthen as their property. 
While most of this library consists of books that will always be 
‘needed, it does not contain by far enough for the classification 
of the specimens in the museum. A liberal annual appropria- 
tion for increasing the museum library is indispensable for the 
proper classification of the collections. 

The State University at Champaign had, previous to my 
appointment as Curator, received from the State Museum a set 
of its duplicates, representing all the classes of fossil animals 
and plants from the various geological horizons in the State, 
with the exception of evertebrates of the coal measures. On 
application from Prof. Charles W. Rolfe of the geological de- 
partment of the said University, I have completed this set by 
sending to the University a collection of 280 species—978 spe- 
cimens—of evertebrates from the [llinois coal measures. 

Besides his other duties the statute of May 25th, 1877, 
(‘An Act to establish a State Historical Library and Natural 
History Musenimn’’] imposes upon the Curator of the museum, 
the duty of collecting and preserving books, manuscripts and 
other matters illustrative of the early history of the State. For 
very ample reasons this enactment has so far never been ob- 
served. For its observation my predecessor would have needed, 
besides time, something more than two empty hands and a 
eood will. 

It has appeared to me as eminently proper that the post- 
humus volume of Prof. Worthen’s reports on the geological 
survey of Illinois, should be adorned with a well executed por- 
trait of the late Director of this survey, and with biographic 
sketches of his life and work. With the consent of members of 
the old Board I invited N. W. Bliss, Esq., of Chicago, and Prof. 
C. A. White, of the U. S. Geological Survey, Washington, to 


— 
( 


honor the memory of the deceased veteran in science by pre- 
senting such sketches for the said purpose. Both of them have 
been pleased to accept the invitation, and I have already re- 
ceived their manuscripts, that of Mr. Bliss mainly sketching 
Prof. Worthen’s private life, while that of Prof. White is exclu- 
sively devoted to his scientific work. The appropriation for 
the printing of Vol. VIII not allowing the introducing of any 
addition to the original manuscript, I beg to suggest that pro- 
per measures be taken for securing the funds necessary for this 
purpose. I would also suggest that a special edition of the bio- 
graphy, with portrait, be prepared for distribution among the 
late Professor’s relatives and personal friends. 

For above reasons I would submit to the Board the desir- 
ableness of recommending the following appropriations, besides 
salaries, viz: 

Ist. A sum of $200 as an addition to the appropriation 
for the present year, mainly for the purchase of glass jars for 
the collections in alcohol. 

2p. A sum of $1000 annually for the incidental expenses 
of the museum and its library. 

3p. A sum of $1000 annually for publishing bulletins on 
subjects relating to the geology of the State, and to the collec- 
tions in the State Museum. 

4ru. A sum of $1500 for the purchase of additional show 
cases; and 

orH. An addition to the appropriation for the publication 
of the eighth volume of geological reports, so as to cover the 
expenses for the portrait and biography of the late Professor 
Worthen, including an extra edition of 200 copies of this 
biography. 

I would also further submit to the Board to consider what 


should be done: 
Ist. With regard to the Historical library, and 
2D, With regard to the Worthen collection. 


Yours respectfully, 
JOSUA LINDAHL, 
CURATOR. 


January 26th, 1889. 


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